Weight-releasing device for the draw-off mechanism of full-fashionedknitting machines



March 10, 1931. E. c. SANDERS 1,795,632

WEIGHT RELEASING DEVICE FOR THE DRAW- OFF MECHANISM OF FULL FASHIONEDKNITTING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 I lnver zlor Allorney March 10, 1931. E, Q SANDERS 1,795,682

WEIGHT RELEASING DEVICE FOR THE DRAW- OFF MECHANISM OF FULL FASHIONEDKNITTING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1930 2 Sheets-She'et 2 J y, f. v

J J b F r d/d A5 45 5. 4' /7 :/6' /f' I H FF .1 J FL F F A? I Invcnlor lf J 12 tfandara M v y 4%; i- Attorney Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE WEIGHT-RELEASING DEVICE FOR THE DRAW-OFF MECHANISMOF FULL-FASHIONED- KNITTING MACHINES Application filed June 24,

This invention relates generally to a full fashioned knitting machine,and more particularly to a device to be operatively connected to thedraw ofi' mechanism, for progressively and successively lifting aplurality of weights from the tensioning table of the machine during aknitting operation.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a weight releasing device for the draw offmechanism of, full fashioned knitting machines of the aforementionedcharacter embodying a novel construction and arrangement of partswhereby the tensionin cable may be relieved of the weights at any esiredtime during the knitting operation, the means for engaging andsupporting the weights being adjustable.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of the characterdescribed, which may be expeditiously connected for operation to aconventional full fashioned knitting machine without the necessity ofaltering said machine in any manner, which will be simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efiicient in its use, and whichmay be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention may become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a device constructed inaccordance with this invention, operatively connected to the draw-offmechanism of a full fashioned knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking downwardly.

Figure 5 is a detail view, showing one of the adjustable stop collars incross section.

Referring to the drawings in detail and to 1930. Serial No. 463,444.

Figure 1 thereof, in particular, it will be seen that the referencenumeral 1 designates a portion of fabric, coming from the knittingneedles 2, in the usual manner and to the free end of which fabric isconnected by any suitable means the straps 3, which are windable on thedraw off shaft- 4 to one end portion of which are fixed the reels 5.Disposed vertically at a point adjacent to the draw oif mechanism, is anelongated cage designated generally by the reference numeral (3 andcomprising a plurality of rods 7 arranged substantially in a circle andhaving their opposite ends anchored in the upper and lower plates 8'and9 respectively. The plate 9 is arranged in anchored relation to thefloor or other convenient support by any suitable means, such as thescrews 10. Bracket 11 is mounted on the upper plate 8 and journaled forrotation on said bracket is a pulley 12.

The bracket 11 and the plate 8 are provided with registering openings,the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The rods 7 arearranged in pairs, the rods constituting each pair being oppositelydisposed. Mounted for vertical adjustment on the pairs of the rods 7 arethe collars 13, which are secured in adjusted position by the set screws14 (see Figure 5). The stop collars of the pairs of rods are disposed atvertically spaced points on the cage 6. Mounted for vertical slidingmovement on the pairs of rods 7 are the horizontally disposed bars15,-through the opposite end portions of which the rods 7 ass. The bars15 are en a eable for rest on the collars 13.

Disposed on each of the bars 15 is a weight 16 and said weights and barsare provided with centrally disposed registering openings. in verticalalignment with each other and with the openings in the bracket 11 andthe upper plate 8.

A tensioning cable 17 is windable on the reel 5 and trained under thepulley 18, which is mounted on the knitting machine as usual.

From the pulley 18, the tensioning cable 17 is trained over the pulley12 on the upper plate 8 and extends downwardly through the opening inthe bracket 11, the upper plate 8. the weights 16 and the bars 15 andhas connected to its lower end portion any suitable number of theweights 19.

In use, when the knitting of the fabric 1 is started, the tensioningcable 17 is wound on the reel 5 and all of the weights 16 and 19 and thebars 15 are in the upper portion of the cage 6. As the fabric 1 isknitted and drawn toward the draw off shaft 4, through the medium of theweights 16 and 19, unwinding the tensioning cable 17 from the reel 5,the weights and bars in passing downwardly through the cage 6 willsuccessively engage and come to rest on their respective supportingcollars 13, and in this way the tension on the fabric 1 is decreased atexactly the de' sired time. When knitting stockings the weights areautomatically shifted from the tensioning cable 17 at the proper placeand also at the same place on each set or pair of stockings coming fromthe needles thus producing stockings of more uniform length having morenearly the same count in stitches than when the weights are removedmanually by an operator.

It will be readily apparent that a device constructed in accordance withthis invention will materially reduce the cost of producing thestockings by reason of the fact that an attendant or operator may devoteto other matters, the time which, at present, is spent in relieving thetensioning cable of the weights. 'The device will further materiallydecrease needle breakage, which usually results from failure of theattendant or operator to remove the weight at the proper time or place,thus causing excessive strain on the knitting needles.

It is believed that the many advantages of a device constructed inaccordance with this invention will be readily understood, and althoughthe preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction may be had, which will fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a drawoff shaft, a reel fixed on the draw off shaft, and a tensioning Cablewindable on the reel having a plurality of weights thereon, of meansoperatively connected with the tensioning cable and engageable with theweights in a manner to successively lift said weights from the cablewhen said cable is unwound from the reel.

2. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having agravity actuated draw off mechanism including a cable and a series ofweights slidably mounted on the cable, of means operatively connectedwith the cable and engageable with the weights in a manner tosuccessively engage and support the same for relieving the cablethereof.

3. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having adraw-off shaft, a reel fixed on the drawofi' shaft, and a tensioningcable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights thereon, ofmeans operatively connected with the tensioning cable and engageablewith the weights in a manner to successively lift said weights from thecable when said cable is unwound from the reel, said means comprising aplurality of vertical rods disposed concentrically about one end portionof the cable, stop collars fixed on the rods at vertically spacedpoints, bars slidably mounted on the rods and engageable for rest on thestop collars, the cable passing slidably through said bars and each barhaving a weight thereon.

4. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having adraw-off shaft, a reel fixed on the draw-off shaft and a tensioningcable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights slidablymounted on one end portion thereof, of means operatively connected withthe tensioning cable and engageable with the weights in a manner tosuccessively lift said weights from the cable when said cable is unwoundfrom the reel, said means comprising a cage including a plurality ofvertically disposed pairs of rods, the cable having one end disposed forlongitudinal movement in the cage, stop collars adjustably mounted onthe pairs of rods at vertically'spaced points, transversely extendingbars slidably mounted at their opposite end portions on the pairs ofrods and engageable for rest on the stop collars, the cables passingslidably through the bars and each bar having a weight thereon, saidbars constituting means for lifting the weights from the cable andsupporting said weights when said bars are resting on the collars.

5. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having adraw-off shaft, a reel fixed on the draw-off shaft and a tensioningcable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights slidablymounted thereon, of means operatively connected with the tensioningcable and engageable with the weights in a manner to successively liftsaid weights from the cable, when said cable is unwound from the reel,said means comprising a cage including a plurality of pairs ofvertically disposed rods, anchoring plates at the opposite ends of therods, a pulley on the uppermost plate, the tensioning cable trained overthe pulley and extending for longitudinal movement into the cage, stopcollars adjustably mounted on each pair of rods at vertically spacedpoints, transverse bars slidably mounted on each air of rods for rest onthe stop collars and through which the cable slidably extends and eachbar having a wei ht thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERIE C. SANDERS.

